Calvin Coolidge

Thursday

Mar 16, 2017 at 1:08 PMMar 16, 2017 at 1:08 PM

Background/Early Life• Calvin Coolidge was born in Vermont and attended Amherst College in Massachusetts. After graduating, Coolidge stayed in Massachusetts to study law, then opened up a practice in Northampton, Massachusetts, where he also began his political career.• Coolidge started as a member of the local Republican Club, then advanced to City Council; was a city solicitor, county clerk and chairman of the local Republican Party organization; served on the state legislature; then was elected mayor of Northampton, state senator, lieutenant governor, then governor of Massachusetts.• Coolidge was selected to be Warren Harding’s running mate, and served as vice president for two years before Harding died suddenly. Coolidge learned the news while vacationing in Vermont. Coolidge’s father John, a justice of the peace, administered the oath of office for his son in the middle of the night.How he defined the office• Theodore Roosevelt was the only other vice president to finish another president’s term, then run for and win an election himself. But Coolidge repeated the feat in the 1924 presidential election after finishing Harding’s first term, unscathed by the scandals that constantly impacted his predecessor.• Coolidge was known as “Silent Cal” for the fact that he didn’t enjoy making small talk at social gatherings, but in fact he addressed the nation by radio at least once a month, held many press conferences and was an oft-photographed president.Successes and failureS• President Coolidge wanted to maintain the economic success the country was experiencing during his time in office. His administration cut taxes and took credit for the prosperity of the time, but these policies contributed to the Great Depression on the horizon. • During Coolidge’s presidency the Federal Radio Commission was created (later to be known as the Federal Communications Commission), which put the growing radio industry under federal regulations.• Latin American countries met during Coolidge’s presidency to address the issue of American intervention in the area — the U.S. had troops in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Haiti and was active in Cuba and Mexico. President Coolidge traveled to the meeting to discuss matters with the other countries, which led to better relationships down the road.• Coolidge chose not to run for another term, leaving the presidency viewed favorably by many Americans.

notable quote• “To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race.”